Tag Archives: Leukemia

Berlin, Germany – Stem cell transplant cures HIV in patient

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Stem cell transplantation in a 42-year-old HIV patient with leukemia has wiped out the virus from his body, the doctor of Berlin Charité Hospital confirms.
“The patient is fine,” said Dr. Gero Hutter, a haematologist at the Berlin Charité Hospital. “Today, two years after his transplantation, he is still without any signs of HIV disease and without antiretroviral medication.”

The doctor observed that using the stem cells from a donor who carries a unique gene mutation i.e. delta 32 ccr5 along with a tissue match, could now cure the patient from the HIV virus. Delta 32 ccr5 makes the cells resistant
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A miraculous Stem Cell transplant

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A breakthrough was achieved recently in the case of an 18 year old boy, a case of advanced stage of Aplastic anemia where stem cells of not one but three donors were used to treat him. This spectacular feat was achieved by the doctors at The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute (NSCBCRI) Kolkata.

18 year old Aman, student of class 12, fainted in school. He was diagnosed for Aplastic Anemia, a disorder where the bone marrow stops producing red blood cells and platelets. He was treated in many hospitals, but no amount of blood transfusions or ‘immuno-suppressant’ medication
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German Study Discovers Stem Cell ‘Silent’ Reserves

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Andreas Trumpp

Andreas Trumpp and his colleagues from the German Cancer Research Center have recently spoken about a “silent reserve” of stem cells, wondering what type of medical impact the discovery made in Heidelberg of “dormant stem cells” could have.

Usually, dormant bone marrow cells activate and multiply only in a crisis or emergency to react to serious cellular loss due to a virus or hemorrhage. When their work is done, they return to a dormant stage. This withdrawal phase keeps them protected from mutations, cellular toxins, and other dangerous substances, since the cells do not divide
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Researchers Connect New Genetic Signature to Leukemia

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University of Rochester Medical Center scientists believe they are the first to identify genes that underlie the growth of primitive leukemia stem cells; and then to use the new genetic signature to identify currently available drugs that selectively target the rogue cells.

Although it is too early to attach significance to the drug candidates, two possible matches popped up: A drug in development for breast cancer (not approved by the Food and Drug Administration), and another experimental agent that, coincidentally, had been identified earlier by a URMC laboratory as an agent that targets leukemia cells.

China – Stem cell surgery for cancer patient in Shanghai

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Image by jason | caine via Flickr

A 21-year-old leukemia patient underwent pioneering surgery in a Shanghai hospital Wednesday, when doctors transfused 30 milliliters of umbilical-cord blood donated by a Shanghai cord bank. Today they will transplant a batch of his father’s stem cells, which are an imperfect match.

This combination of umbilical-cord blood and half-matched stem cells can offer lifesaving transplant opportunities to many more patients than traditional methods, which require a perfect match between patient and donor, said doctors from Shanghai No. 1 People’s Hospital.

It will be a month before results of the transplant are determined.

About 40,000 to 50,000
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